Separating machine



July 3, 1928.

- 1,675,572 T. F. MORSE SEPARATING incarna Filed May 14, .1 923 2 sheets-sneer 2' A Trop/V56'.

Patented `luly 3, 1928.

`UNITED STA TES PATENT oFFlce.

THEODORE r. MORSE, oF SILVER CREEK, NEW YoRK, Assmnoa To LUJNTLEY` MANU- FACTURING co., or SILVER CREEK, Newy YORK;

SEPARATING MACHINE.

Application inea May 14, 1923. serial No. 6383882 J This invent-ion relates to improvements in separating or cleaning machines, and more particularly to a n'iaehine for the purpose of separating from each other materials such as seeds or grains which dil'l`er in shape or character of surfaces. `ForV instance, the machine is adapted for separating buekhorn seeds from clover seeds,` for sepa ating Wheat from oats or for separating from each other substantially spheriealor regular shaped seeds or grains and seeds or grains which are longer in one direction or areof i more irregular shape, but which have one din'iension substantially alike so that the irregular and regulinI shapedyseeds could pass adapted to thoroughly separate from each i other seeds, grains or particles which di'tler in shape. Other objects of the invention are "to construct the `machine so thatthe perforated separating plate or element can be readily placed in position and removed and quickly replaced by another plate havingperforations ot a different size to adapt the machine for operation upon different seeds or grains of (.li'lferentsizes or kinds,V

and so` that the yielding covering of the cylinderwhich cooperates ,y with the separating plate `can be easilyapplied and renewed; also to arrange and mount the separatingplate so thatitavillbe heldtaut and smooth against the cylinder `with the 'equired tension, which can be readily adjusted as maybe necessary; also to construct and arrange the separating'plate and cylinder so that .they will cooperate With each other to retain the cylinder covering intact i and smoothonfthe cylinder and maintain a smootln'even contact'of theplate with the cylinder; also to provide adjustable means cooperating with the separating plate for dejliectingto ditlferent places materials or seeds of' different kinds or grades passing through different aref-is ofi the perforated separating plate; and also to improve separating machines ofthe character mentioned in the other respects hereinafter described and set 4forth in the' claims.

A .separating machine according to my inyention comprises a'rotating drum or cylinder and a flexible, perforated separating plate, screen or element which partially surrounds and presses upon the periphery'of the rotating cylinder in such manner that the seed `or material to be separated can be fed in a thin layer between the cylinder and plate and willhe carried along between the cylinder and plate by the rotation of the cylinder, the round or regular shaped seeds or grains being adaptedto pass through the perforations in the plate, while the elongated or irregular shaped seeds or grains are held flat against the `perforated plate so as to be `prevented from passing through the perforations in the plate but caused to t-avel over the perfor-ations of the plate, being thus separated from the round or regular shaped seeds or grains and discharged at different point.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a rear elevation of a separating machine embodying myinvention.

` Fig. Qiisa longitudinalsectional elevation thereof on line-Q, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the feed device on line 3 3, Fig. Q.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View, enlarged, of the rear end of the'separating plateand its tensioning means.

Fig. 5 is a section thereof on line 5-`5. Fig. 4. i

Fig. Gris a section of the separating cylinder and plate on line 66, Fig. 7 I 'Fig 7 isa'section of the separating cylinder and plate, on an enlarged scale, on line 7 7, Fig. .i

Fig. 8 isafragmentary section of the cylinder showing the manner of securing the yielding covering and flexible material thereon.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary planof` the perforated separating plate detached.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary transverse section showing the means used for releasably retaining the end of the lexiblecovering on the cylinder. t i l Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section of the 'I by a belt running on a pulley 11, secured to one end of a bearing shaft 12 for the cylinder. The cylinder is preferably made of metal or other suitable rigid material, but is provided with a Vyielding or cushioned pe f ripheral surface, preferably formed by a layer of carpet or analogous, relatively thick, yielding material 13, and a superposed or outer wrapper or cover of duck, canvas or analogous textile material 14, the kind of material depending upon the kind of grains or seeds heilig separated. As a rule, it is desirable to use a relatively heavy, stiff 1naterial when separating large seeds and a finer and more flexible material when sepa rating very small seeds. The carpet or cushioning layer 13 is stretched sn'ioothlyY around the periphery of the cylinder with its ends abutting so as to form a butt joint, and is suitably secured on the cylinder, as for in` stance, by wire or other stitching 15 passing through the batting ends of the carpet and through holes provided for this purpose in the cylinder. The outer wrapper or cover 14 is of relatively heavy material, such as canvas or duck and is preferably simply wrapped loosely around the cylinder outside of the cushioning layer 13 with its ends overlappingin such a direction that in the rotation ot the cylinder the contact of the cover 14 with the separating plate B will keep the wrapper or cover smooth and taut on the cylinder by reason of the tendency of the wrapper to roll tighter on the cylinder, see Fig. 11. lf, however, it is desired to separate very small seeds, a more flexible and sott material, such as denim or the like is used. In this case, it may be desirable to provide means for securing, at least tem` porarily, the front or leading edge of the materi al to the cylinder A, asuntil the machine has been in operation for a short time, the relatively soft material is liable to crawl laterally, or Vwrinkle on the cylinder', as it is somewhat diiiicult to accurately lay suoli material on the cylinder. The means shownk in the drawings comprises a ilexible member, such as the coil spring 14, adapted to be extended across the inner face of the cylinder and having its hooked ends 14h brought outwardly into engagement with the front corners of the material 14, at the opposite edges of the cylinder. The lapped or rear edge of the material will extend over the other edge as before and will cover the ends 14b of the retaining device. Any other suitable means may be provided for releasablyV retaining the material 14 on the cylinder A.

The perforated plate or screen B is preferably provided at its front end with a hooked 'or bent-over edge 16 by which it is detachably engaged with a. corresponding hooked edge on an attaching plate 17 which is fastened in any suitable manner to the stationary frame 10 of the machine at the front side of the cylinder, and the perfo` rated plate B passes downwardly from the attaching plate 17 partially around the underside of the cylinder and is connected at its rear end to tensioning springs 18 which are suitably attached to the frame 1() of the machine so that they tend to draw the perforated plate taut against the contacting portion of the cylinder. Preferably the rear end of the perforated plate is folded under to form a hooked edge which is adapted to engage a complementary hook on a bar 19 to which the tensioning springs 18 are connected, as by hooks 20, see Fig. 5, and the springs 1S are provided at their outer ends with rods or extensions which pass through the bearing plates 21 on the frame l0, and have thumb nuts screwed on their threaded ends and engaging the bearing plates 21 for fastening the springs to the frame of the machine. The tension of the springs can be adjusted by means of these nuts so as to hold the perforated plate with the requisite pres` sure against the yielding surface of the cyl inder.

The upper or front end of the perforated plate and its attaching plate 17 extend tangentially out from the surface of the cylinder, or is separated therefrom by a gap or space into which the seeds or grains are fed in a thin layer from a suitable hopper or feed device. For this purpose, in the machine shown, a feed hopper 25 is provided at the upper front portion of the machine, having an opening 26 in its bottom through which the seed can discharge by gravity into the space between the cylinder and the separating plate. In order to regulate the discharge of the seed or grain and insure of the same being'discharged in a thin layer or stream; a revolving feed roller 27 is provided in the discharge opening of the hopper between the inclined bottom board 28 of the hopper at one side of the discharge opening and a feed regulating valve or plate 29 which is adjustably secured to the inclined bottom of the hopper at the opposite side of the roll. and is adapted to be set so as to leave onl a narrow gap or crack between the edge o' the valve and the surface of the feed roller 27. The feed regulating Valve can be adjustably secured on the hopper in any suit-able manner, as for instance rby clamping screws passing through elongated slots in the valve.V The feed roller can be driven by any suitable means, as for lou lli

der.-

instance by a pulley 31 on one end of `the feed roller shaftr connected by a belt 32 to the pulley 33 on the sha-ft 12 oftheiseparating cylinder A. i Y

- ln the operation of the machine the feed roller feeds the mixedV seeds or 'grains in a thin layeror stream into the spaced bef tween the upper end of the separating plate B and the cylinder A, and this layer of seeds or grains is caused to travel between the cylinder A and the separatingplate bythe rotation of the cylinder,r `The feed of the seeds 'or grains should be regulated `by `appropriate adjustment of the regulating valve 29 so that the layer of seeds or grains will not be substantially deeper thanthe thickness oi' the `thickest `seeds or grains.l` In passing between the cylinder and the separating plate, the spherical or regular shaped f seeds or grains, when they reach the perforations in the plateB, are adapted to fall through these perforations, Vor are `pushed through the perforations-by the pressure thereon of the yielding surface of the cylin- The `elongated or irregular shaped seeds or grains are held flat with their longer ends against the surface Iof the separating plate by the pressure of the cylinder thereon and are thus preventedfrom assuming an upstand-ing position with their small lends or dimensions presented to perforations in the plate, and are thusprevented from passy ing through the' perforations. `The elongated or irregular seeds or grains are thus carried on by the rotating cylinder` past the perforated portion of theplate` and discharged from the machine at a different point, `for instance, over the end of the separating plate or screen, where they may be delivered into a suitable receptacle or conveyor to maintain them separated from the `seeds or grains which pass through the perforations of the plate or screen and may fall into a different receptacle or'conveyor. The plate is not perforated(throughout but `the erforations are confined to a comparative y restricted. zone or area extending across the middle portion of the plate which contacts with the surface of the cylinder, the plate being imperforate in front andiin rear of the perforated area. `The perforations are round or similar in shape to the regular shaped seeds and only of sufficient `size Vto permit the passage of these seeds. f

The tensioning springs for the perforated plate or screen pull uponthe latter in the same direction that the contacting portion of the cylinder travels so that the friction of the cylinder against thev plate and the springs both tend to draw and hold the perforated plate taut and smooth against the surface of the cylinder. 'Thisconstrnetion insures a uniform contact and pressure of the plate throughoutits perforated portion against thesurface of the cylinderand prevents any vundulations or unevenness in the. plate which would revent perfect separation of the material. he friction between the cylinder and the separating plate or screen alsotends towrap the loose cover `tighter and smoother on the cylinder, as the rotation ofthe cylinder continues, always keeping it smooth and taut and preventing looseness or wrinkles in the cover or wrapper. Therefore, the cylinder always presents a yielding surface free from `wrinkles or roughness to the contacting face of the perforated plate or screen, and the surface of thecylinder is thus always maintained intact in its properposition, and insures very eflicient and reliable operation of the machine. When the wrapper or `coverllli be comes worn, it can be quickly and easily replaced, as it is only necessary to unvvrap it from the cylinder and wrap a new piece around the cylinder in its place, it being un necessary, as above indicated, to permanently secure or fasten the cover or wrapper on the cylinder. The separating plate or screen can be readily; detached and removed by disengaging its opposite ends from the attaehingplate 17 and the tensioning springs 1S, and quickly and easily replaced by an other plate having perforations of di erent size adapted for` operating on a different material. 1 i

I have found that in the use of this sepa rater the seeds or materials which it is intended shall pass through the perforations of the separating plate,vary in quality, that is there are sometimesn'iore seeds of prime quality/ or moreor less foreign matter in a.

given batch' or mixture than at other times.

The prime quality seed `will pass first through the perforations of the separatingr plate in a layer ofgreater or less width circumferentially of the cylinder A, depending` on the proportion of prime heavy seeds in the mixture, and the light, inferior seeds, together with fine foreign matter will then pass through the rear lines of the perforations The reason for this separation of the seeds and their passage through the screen in two Zones of variable width that prime quality lclover seeds, for example, in addition to being heavier than theinferior seed, are more plump and are round and smooth, while the inferior seeds are not only light, but are also wrinkled and are not so smooth and round.V The smooth, large and round seeds will naturiilly be freed from the rough sur face of the firbrie on the cylinder before the inferior rough seeds` which will tendA to stick to this surface longer than said smooth seeds. `Thus the best or prime seeds will first pass through the perforatioi'is of `the screen` `The same reasons apply to the separation of buckhorn seeds from clover seeds. Buckhorn seeds are rougher thany clover .seeds and` have a small hook or tooth at one end, which tends to ,cling to the fabric, thus retaining such seeds in contact with the cylinder for a longer period than the smooth clover seeds. It is desirable to separate these two grades of seeds or materials. For this purpose an adjustable divider .is provided which is preferably of the inverted V-shape, shown in Fig. 2, and is arranged with its apex 36 parallel with the axis of the cylinder A and against the underside of the separating plate B adjacent the perforations. The divider 35 may be adjusted nearer to or farther from thefront line of jiierforations as may be found necessary after the relative proportions of the goed and poor seeds or material are found. rlhis may be ascertained by observing the point where the good seeds cease to pass through the perforations, and the divider 35 is then adjusted with its apex approximately at this point. The two diverging faces 37 and 3S of the divider will then divert the good seeds and the light seeds or foreign matter respectively into different receptacles 39, Ait), or to di il'erent places thereby separating them.

Any suitable means may be provided for adjustably mounting and seein-ing the divider 35 in its adjusted positions. As shown in the drawings, tile opposite ends of the divider are connected to arms fil arranged to swing on the shaft l2 so thatthe divider can be moved concentrically with the curved surface of the separating plate to difl'erent distances from the front line of perforations of the sepa-rating plate B. Thumb nuts 42 engaging laterally extending threaded rods 43 secured to the divider and passing through slots all; in fixed plates 45 form suitable means for securing the divider 35 in its adjusted positions.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a separating machine for seeds and analogous material, the combination of a stationary frame, a rotating cylinder', a flexib'le plate which partially surrounds and contacts with the periphery of said cylinder and forms therewith a separating area throughout the length of contact between said cylinder and said plate one end of said plate beingspaced from the cylinder to form an inlet to permit the material to be fed to said separating area between said plate and cylinder, quick detachable means for fastening said end of said plate to said frame, a floating connection between the opposite :troc end of said plate and said frame Yadapted to tension said plate and draw said plate taut against said cylinder, said connection comprising a strip having a bentover edge adapted to hook into a corresponding portion on said free end of said plate, and tension springs each connected at one end to said frame at a distance from said plate and at the other end to said strip, and

adjustable means on said frame for varying the tension of said springs, without disturbing the connection between the same and said strip.

2. In a separating machine for seeds and analogous material, the combination of a rotating cylinder, a flexible plate which partially surrounds and contacts with the periphery of the cylinder and is spaced therefrom at one end to permit the material to be fed between the cylinder and plate, and quick detachable tensioning means connected with the opposite end of the plate and acting to pull the plate taut-against the cylinder in the direction of travel of that portion of the cylinder which contacts with the plate, said plate having perforations in a portion thereof which contacts with the cylinder through which .perforations a portion of the material is adapted to pass for separating the same from the remaining material, said cylinder having a loose flexible covering which surrounds the Same and cooperates with said plate to separate a portion of said material and force the same through said perforations, said covering having disconnected ends unattached to said cylinder and which is retained on said cylinder by overlapping said ends in a direction such that the contact of the plate with the covering tends to wrap the cover smoothly on the cylinder.

3. In a separating machine for seeds and analogous material, the combination of a rotating cylinder, a thin plate which partially surrounds and contacts with the periphery of the cylinder and is arranged to permit the entrance of the material between the cylinder and plate, means for holding the plate yieldingly in contact with the cylinder, said plate having perfor-ations in a portion thereof which contacts with the cylinder through which perforations a portion of the material is adapted to pass, and a divider arranged to separate the material passing through different perforated areas of the plate and which has a thin edge adjacent said cylinder and extending transversely thereof and oppositely inclined faces for directing the separated portions of material away' from each other, adjustable means for moving said divider to different positions relative to the perforated portion of the plate tov vary its separating action and means for securing said divider in its different adjusted positions.

4. In a separating machine for seeds and analogous material, the combination of a rotating cylinder, a thin plate which partially surrounds and contacts with the periphery of the cylinder and is arranged to permit theentrance of the material between the cylinder and plate, means for holding the plate in contact with the cylinder, said plate having perforations in a portion thereof which. contacts with the cylinder through whichperforations a portion of the material is adapted to pass, and a divider arranged to separate the material passing through diil'erent perforated areas of lthe plate, an arm pivoted at oneend on the axis of rotation of said cylinder and connected at its other end to said divider to permit the same to be adjusted concentrically with the curved portion of the plate to diferent positions to vary its separating t action, and means for securing said divider receive the material and permit the material to `be fed between the contacting faces of a loose flexible coveringr which surrounds the saine and engages the material as it passes between said cylinder and said plate, said coveringr havingr disconnected overlappingr ends, and a resilient member extending across said cylinder inwardly beyond its periphery and having;r its ends formed to engage the leading end of said fiexible covering under tension to releasab'ly maintain said covering on said cylinder, said ends of said resilient member being,r concealed `beneath the overlapping end of said cover.

THnoDoRn n. MORSE. 

